Typewriting machine



flrrorne Y J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1923 Jan. 19 1,926.

Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORI'OBIATION OF DELAWARE.

ryrnwmrnve MACHINE.

Application flied December 7, 1923.

To all 207mm it may concern.

Be it known that I, Jesse A. B. SMITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The usual typewriter feed-roll release mechanism comprises a key, usually near the end of the platen, which is eiiective to lock the teed-rolls in released position, for convenience in the removal and insertion of work-pieces in the machine. To obviate the necessary movement of the operators hand to the end of the carriage for releasing the teed-rolls from the platen, this invention provides for the same to be operated from any point along the front of the platen.

Such arrangement is especially valuable in typing on machines having long platencarriages, as much time is lost in reaching for and finding the usual. release-control lever or key when it is desired to withdraw an individual sheet and insert another, since said hey is at variable distances from the hand of the typist, according to the position of the carriagef It is also a valuable improvement in machines wherein thew0rksheets are inserted downwardly at the front of the platen, since the feed-rolls can be released during the sheet-inserting movement by the typists finger or hand which is being used to insert the sheet.

are only temporarily released and are automatically returned to the platen when the typist releases the device.

The invention comprises a bar extending the full length of the platen, which supports an adjustable lever in such a manner that the teed-rolls are controlled from any position of the handle on said bar. The handle is also swingingly adjustable to be conveniently operated either by the typists linger or hand during the removing or iusorting movement of the work-piece.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the release-control lever can be set at will, to be used for controlling the feedrolls either to lock them in releasing position or to temporarily release same during the worksheet-inserting movement. In this connection a feature of the invention is the provision of means in Means are provided whereby the feed-rolls Serial No. 679,069.

the form of a stop movable into or out of the path of the releasecontrol means, thereby either limiting the same to temporarily release the feed-rolls or allowing the locking action of the feed-roll release to take place.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top; plan view of the platencarriage of an Underwood typewriting machine with the invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an end View, partly in section, of that shown in Figure 1, showing the feedrolls in effective position, with the releasecont-rol lever set to be operated by the typists finger, and the stop means positioned out of the path of the release-control means, to allow the locking action of the feed-roll release to take place upon operating said lever.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end view of the parts involving the invention shown in Figure 2, showing their position when the teed-rolls are locked in released position.

Figure l is a fragmentary end view of the platen-carriage and the release-control device attached thereto, partly in section, showing the release-control lever set to be operated by the typists hand, and the stop means positioned in the path of the releasecontrol means, to allow only temporary releasing of the feed-rolls to take 'place upon operating said lever.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic end view of the parts involving the invention, showing the release-control lever and stop, as in Figure 4, and the feed-rolls in a temporarily released position corresponding thereto.

A platen 10, by means of an axle 11, is

journaled in the side pieces 12 of the platenframe. This frame is shiftable up and down between case-positions by any suitable mechanism, not shown. For supporting the platen-frame and assisting in the case-shift of the latter, pins 13 on the side plates of the platen-frame are set upon arms 14 fast to a rock-shaft 15, upon which shaft is a spring, not shown, tending to lift the platenframe. The case-sl'lifting niecl'ianisn'i may be that shown in the standard Underwood typewritingrj machine. a

The platen-frame is also provided with a paper-shelf 16, which forms an extension. of the usual rear paper table 17 and apron-en tensi n 18.101 guiding; rk-pieces down and around under the same line at the front thereof. The usual front and 1' ar leeda'ollers 19 and 20, respectively, are also provided. The trout: rolls 19 are on a shaft 21, seated on the arms .32 of hell-crank levers pirotally mountied on a shaft? 23. supported on the end plates 12 of the plateirframe. The rear :teed rolls 20 are on a shaft 24, seated on the arms at the hell-erai'ik levers also pivot-ally mounted on the shaft The hell-crank lerers. which conun'ise the arms 2 have other arms 26 which depend to the rear of a shaft 27; and the hell-crank levers which comprise the arms 25 have other arms 28 which depend to the front ol? the shaft 27. Leaf-springs 9., hearing upon the arms and tend to rock the arms upward to throw the feedrolls against the platein and therefore tend to press the arms 2t; and 28 against the shaft 2?. The shatt 27 has 'tlats I'ltl cut therein where the arms Qt; and 28 engage the same. \Yhen the teed-rolls are in ell'ectire position, the arms 26 and 28 hear against the flats no, as shown in Figure 2. When. however, the shaft; 9? is rotated, the arms E26 and 28 are forced apart to draw down the feed-rolls 19 and 20, as shown in Figure The shatt 2 hind the platen to the printing t is iournaled in the side plates 12 oi the platenil rame (not shown). The teed-roll mechanism. just descrihed. is that found in the standard Underwoml typewritinn ma- Chine.

'l he teeda'olls ll) and Elli may he thrown oil" the platen ltl lw means of a rel use-coin trol lever 43 ot a controhderire l? througjh the followingintereonnectinej parts. Fast to the shaft 5327 is an arm 31. which is ronnet-ted at one end to a link 32: the other end of the link 32 ieing eonnecled to a hell-crank lever 33 on a stuh-sl alt I'llmounted in the righthand side plate of the platen-Frame. ()ne arm 33:") ot? the hell-crank lever 3 conneets with the rontrt l-derice -l-il hy a forwardly enhanling link 3G. The release-control device +2 in addition to lever i?) may omprise a har or rock-shaft 35) on which lever if is alidine'ly mounted and has securely fastened on the right-hand end thereof an arm to which the forward end of link 36 is eonneeted. The rockt-=hatt 39 extends the entire length of the platen l0, and, at its ends, has hairings in a hraeket- -l-(l suitahly secured along; the side pieces 41 ot the platen-cal.- riae'e. lre sure on the lever 43 of the control means l2 as by the finger of the typist when in the position shown in Figure 2. or by the palm of the hand when in the ])t)Sttion shown in Figure 4-, results in the movement ot the same to cause the link 36 to he drawn torwarth hell-crank arm 3;") to he rocked e(nintereloclmise, and the link 32 to he drawn to release the feed-rolls.

it will he noted that the link 36, which JIEODDGLTS th t part 01'' the feedwall-releasing mechanism which is on the shil'tahle p frame to that part ol the feed-rolldeli aiiu r mechanism which is on the earriane. i slightly inclined downward and real-warn when the shift-frame s in lo\\'erca;-r po ition. ll hen the shift-frame is in npperwaro position. this link 53:; is inrlinrd slightly; upward and rearward: the true medial l'uislllon ol the link 36 heing a horinorual poaition hall way between its ease-positions. ll this n'ieans prorision is made tor the saute rollreleasing action ol the parts whaterer th case-positirm oi" the shilt'l rame. It will lie understood that the 'arriae'e ion morenwnl, in the usual manner, in letter-teed and return directions, on the main iii-ante is of: tinmachine. At its r ar, the rarriagnr rides upon a rail 49 on the main 't'ran:e and. at its front, the carriage is proi'ided with a roll Fill, which t'ai'els on a runway ill on th main :l'rame id.

The contrtl-lerer -l-'l ma rompi' a collar-portion l-l-. at the lower end thereol'. emhracingr rot'k-sha'l't 111 and a thumlisrrew l5 threaded into the upper side ol the collar -l l. The leading end of screw 15 is conical in shaoe and is arranged to fit into either ol' two spaced V grooves 46 or ll) extemling longitudinally of rock-sl alt 3- When the screw if) is set to he guided in gi roore ill", the lever -ll is held in upstanding! position (sre l i irnres l and and it may he operated unireniently lay the lingrrr oi the lh'illr l during the sheet-iuser-tint, morement: and when titted into groove ltl t it properly positions said lever if; to he operated in the palm oi the typint'a hand.

The contrill-release means eomprisiiur it lalentire 12 may also inc-lode a piroted stop I suitaln' mounted from the aide pieces ll ol the plal'en-l'rame. as on a dmrnwardlr :uul forwardly AYltlttlllitl' plate-portion ti l ol lu'a kel .l-tl. l' t lp (iii may he aid at will in the path to inlet-rapt a hug; ti-T l'ast rual to rotate with the rot'leshal't lil. ll hen the stoo t1? ipoiitioned in the path ol lo t'u'. an shown in :l i eure l pressure on lever ll will t'illlfit shall 3!] to he rotated will) enough to ten:- porarily displare the teed-rolls lit and Li l'rom the platen id. as; shown in Figure 5, (ln removal 0! the pressure on lerer l l. the teed-roll l9 and i l wi l automatirally aretnrned to their normal rll'm'lire at-ition by reason ol' the rotatire ell'ect d ii to llapress ire ol the springs St exerte: illl'Hlhjll arm, it}a ul:.tw\iipo1i the dirinonalt'v tlillltlY-llt edges of the llattened portions ll ot' sha ll 11?. llhen the stop ('5 is positioned out oi the path ol lug (37. as shown in anrir :3. iii-is sure on lever 11 will allow the unrtnllicttai nnwenient tor displacing the teed-rolls lit and '20 to take pl: e. as shown in l 'ig ure t. In thisvcase the lll'tFislllt'rUl the arms :fi'i and 3th will he exerted parallel to the tlatleui d port ions 30, that is, against the narrmr t il tjth E El Hi l

1 Ll ll till) thereof, and will therefore cease to have any rotative tendency on shaft 27, and the parts will. remain in such locked position with the feed-rolls 19 and 20 thrown off platen 10.

Suitable detent means, such as detent-holes 63, may be provided on the plate-portion 66 to engage a projecting point 62 on stop 65 for holding the stop 65 in or out of effective position. I

In the drawings, a record sheet 52, faced by a carbon-sheet 53, is shown as having been feddown the table 16 and around the platen 10, and as having the typed portion thereof extending rearward over the top of the platen 10. The record-sheet 52 receives the entries made successively upon a series of individual. cards, bill or statement sheets 71; and, in order. that the record-sheet 52 may be held in place upon platen 10 while the feed rolls are released for the insertion or removal of a statement-sheet 71, a pair of clips are provided. These clips are shown as consisting of spring-fingers 55 having a roller 56 on each, which are adapted to bear upon the record-sheet 52 on platen 10. The springtingers 55 are suitably supported on a shaft 58, as by screws 57. The shaft 58, in turn, is

supported by U-shaped brackets 59, secured to blocksGO on the side plates 61 of a frame which is set upon and detachably secured to the top sides of the side pieces 12 of the platen-frame.

The shaft 58 also serves as a support for a front paper-table 70, which acts as a guide and gage for the statement-sheets 71. For supporting the table 70 on the shaft 58, there is riveted to the rear wall of the table a bar 75. This bar, beyond the sides of the table 70, has its ends offset downward at 76, and rearward at 7. for I attachment to U- shaped brackets '78, similar to the brackets 59, These brackets 78 areconnected to the shaft 58 by rollers 79, set in the slot 64 in the shaft and held therein by springs 80. Although, if desired, this form of attachment of the table 70 to the shaft 58 permits angular movement of the table 70, the prime purpose of such attachment is to permit the table 70 to be slid rightward or leftward along the shaft 58 to any desired position on the carriage. The rollers 79 and slot 64: 0bviously make a spline connection of the table 7 70 to the shaft 58; and the pressure of the springs 80 is sufiicient to hold the table against accidental rightward or leftward displacement. It follows. therefore, that the table 70 is placeable and detachable as a unit with the frame which carries the shaft 58 and paper-clips 55; so that, when this detachable frame is not present on the machine, the machine may be used in the ordinary way Without unnecessary incumbrances.

The shaft 58 is rcvoluble in the brackets which are similar in c nstruction to th b ackets 78, so that the spring-fingers and the front paper-table 70 may be rotated with the shaft 58 as a unit on the brackets 59 for temporarily displacing the same away from the platen 10.

In typing on well-known workpiece forms comprising the card, statement or bill sheet 71 which is to be inserted from the front of the machine against a record-sheet 52 on platen 10, the record-sheet 52 and the carbon 53 are first fed around the platen to typingposition, while the feed-rolls 19 and 20 are in effective position, by means of the usual handwheels 81 onthe platen-axle 11, or by means of the usual line-space mechanism (not shown). The spring-fingers 55, if not previously applied, are then applied to the record-sheet 52 and carbon 53, and the stop is set to intercept lug 67, as shown in Figure 4. The lever 43 is sliding- 1y adjusted on the rock-shaft 89 to a corn venient operating position adjacent the record-sheet 52 (see Figure 1), and is set either to be operated by the typists finger, with the screw 4-5 fitted in groove 46, as shown in Figure 2, or by the typists palm, with the screw 4-5 in groove 46, as shown in Figure If it is assumed that the lever 43 is arranged in position for operation by the typists palm, as shown in Figure 4-, the typist then passes a statementsheet or card 71 in front of the carbon-sheet 53 on platen 10. As the typists hand moves downward, his palm strikes the lever 43 and throws off the feed-rolls 19 and 20, permitting the lower edge of thestaten'ient-sheet 71 to pass around the platen 10 between the latter and the apron 18 W hen the statementsheet 71 is in printing position on the platen 10, the typists hand is lifted to release the let er 48 and to permit the springs 29 to throw the feed-rolls 19 and .20 to position for holding the statementsheet 71.

After typing on a statement-sheet 71 is completed, the carriage is thrown rightwa rd for cominencenieimt of writing on another statement-sheet. The lever (not shown), by which the carriage thus returned, Ordinarily effects a single line-space movement of the platen 10 by mechanism not here shown. This results in a line-space move ment of the record-sheet 52 and carbon 53 so as to prepare the same for receiving the entries to be made upon the nextsucceeding statement-sheet.

In the above-described operation, the corn trol-lever 43 may be fitted in groove 46 instead of 46, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, in which case, the typists hand, as it moves downward during the inserting movement of the statement-sheet 71, will have its little finger conveniently positioned for pressing lever 43 forwardly to throw off the feed-rolls 19 and When the statement-sheet 71 is in printing position on the platen 10, the

typist litts his hand and releases the pressure on lever to permit the teed-rolls 19 and 20 to automatically return to their effective position.

The above description explains the ope z tion of a type-writing machine ei'nhodying the invention tor typing; a relatively complex work-piece. It is obvious that simpler and ordinary 'fOlll'lS may be typed with equal advantage on the arrangement shown, and, if necessary, the tront paper-table TO and its supporting framework may be re moved, thus leaving' a standard typewritin r machine. In typing an v terms, if desired, the stop may he moved out from the path of: the lug ("37, as shown in Figure 2, to allow the looking of the teed-coll-release to take place, as shown in Figure 3, when the control-lever is operated.

The invention as shown readily attached to the tccd roll-release control mechanism of any standard machine, and its adjustahility facilitates the typing; tnreration by providing a control means that is more conveniently ar ranged than any heretofore.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope ot the invention, and portions 01'' the improvements may he used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a plateivcai'l'iage, a releasable work-piece- :fecding' mechanism co-operating with the platen, and control means tor releasing said mechanism, comprising); a bar mounted on the carriage extending" lengthwise ot the platen, and a lever slidingly mounted on the bar tor controlling the releasing of said mechanism "from positions in :front of the platen.

F2. in a. typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a releasable work-piece- 'l eedingr mechanism co-operating" with the platen, and control means tor releasing said mechanism. including a bar mounted on the carriage extending lengthwise of the platen, a lever mounted on the bar for controlling" the rcleasinc ot said mechanism trom different positions in front of the platen, and means tor securing said lever in a plurality of: angular positions transversely of the bar.

3. lo a typewriting machine. a platen, a platen-carriage, a releasable work-pieceteeding' mechanism co-i'iperating' with the platen, a. control device For releasing said mechanism. including: a bar extending lengthwise of the platen, and a lever mounted in s idable relation to the bar for controlling the releasing of said mechanism, said lever including; means for securing it in a plurality of angular positions transversely of the bar, and means settable to limit the movement of the control device to produce temporary release of said mechanism during the operation of said device, and automatic return to its opcratii'u position, said control device norma ly movable to an extreme position in which said mechanisn'i is locked in released position.

l. In a typcwriting machine, a platen, a l)lttt011-0fl1'lllg0, a releasable work-piece- :fceding mechanism eo-operating with the platen, and control means for releasing said mechanism, said control means having a mounting on the carriage and movable to dill'erent adjusted positions longitudinally thereof.

In a typewritinp; machine, a platen, a platen-carriage. a work-pirace-feeding lllCt'llanism coo;:cratingr with the platen, and COIL trol means l'or reh Min said mechanisn'i, ineluding a har extending lengthwise of the platen, and a lever mounted to ol'ierate. the bar at ditlerent; points along the bar.

(3. A revolulile-platcn typewriting ma chine having a releasable \vorh-piece-feedinc mechanism in co-operation with the p aten. in combination with a. control means comprising a rock-shalt extemling lengthwise ot the platen connected to move said mechanism tor coi'itrolling the release thereot, a lever slidingly mounted on the rockshal't for operating the same from any position therealongr, a projecting lug rigidly tastened to more with the rock-shaft, and a stop stttablcinto and out of the path of: the lag. said stop, when in the path of; the lug, limiting the movement thereof to cause only temporary release oi said mechanism on operation of the lever, and thereafter per mitting' said mechanism to return to its effective position, and when out of the path of the lug allowing, said mechanism to be loclted in released position on operation of said lever.

7. A revoluble-platen typewriting; ma chine having a releasable \vra'k'piecwfcedinc n'ajchanism co-operating with the platen, in combination with a control device cone prising a roelc-sha tt extending lengthwise of the platen connected to move said mechanism for controlling" the release thereof. a lever sliding'ly mounted on the rock-shaft, and a plurality of spaced grooves evtending lengthwise ot the rock-shaft. means on said lever for engaging" said grooves for operating: the roclc-shatt, siiid lever heinc angularly adjustable on said rocleshatt to correspond with any one of said grooves to enable operation of the lever by various parts (it the typis :5 hand during the removing or inserting n'iovement ot a workpiece in the machine.

8. A revolable-platen typewriting ma chine having a releasable work-piece-feeding mechanism co-operating with the platen, in ecanbination with a control means CUHII'JI'lS- ing' a roclesha'tt extending lengthwise of the platen connected to move said inechanisn'i for controlling the release thereof, a lever slidingly mounted on the rock-shaft, a plurality of spaced grooves extending lengthwise of the rockshaft, means on said lever for engaging said grooves for operating the rock-shaft, said lever being angularly adjustable in said rock-shaft to correspond with any one of said grooves to enable operation of the lever by various parts of the t' vpists hand during the removing or inserting movement of a work-piece in the machine, a lag rigidly fastened to move with said rock-shaft, and a stop settable into and out of the path of the lug, said stop when in the path of the lug limiting the movement thereof to cause only temporary release of said mechanism on operation of the lever, and tl'iereai'ter permitting said mechanism to return to its efiective position, and when out of the path of the lug allowing said mechanism to be locked in released position on operation of said lever.

9. In a typewriting machine, a platen, feed-roll mechanism co-operative with the platen, a releasing bar operatively connected to said feed-roll mechanism, said releasing bar extending longitudinally of the platen, and a member for operating said releasing bar, said member and said releasing bar having slidable relation to each other so that said ieedroll mechanism is operable in different relative positions of said releasing bar and member.

10. In a typewriting machine, a platen, feed-roll mechanism co-operative with the platen, a releasing bar operatively connected to said teed-roll mechanism, said releasing bar extending longitudinally of the platen, a member for operating said releasing bar, said member and said releasing bar having slidable relation to each other so that said feed-roll mechanism is operable in different relative positions of said releasing barand member, said feed-roll mechanism including. locking means, and said releasing bar normally movable to an extreme position to operate said locking means, and a stop settable to operatively engage said releasing bar to prevent operation or said locking means and produce temporary release and automatic return 01 said releasing bar.

11. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a releasable workpiece-feeding mechanism cooperating with the platen, said mechanism including a locking device, a control device to release said mechanism, and means settable to limit the movement of said control device to cause temporary release and automatic return of said mechanism.

12. In a typewriting machine, a platen, work-pices-feeding mechanism co-opierating with the platen, releasing means for said mechanisn'i, and means settable to limit the movement of the releasing means for automatic return. of said mechanism, said releasing means normally movable to an extreme position for lo king said mechanism in released position.

18. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platencarriage, teed-rolls for co-operating with the platen, means for releasing the feed-rolls including a control lever, a mounting on the carriage for said control lever, said control lever adjustable to diiierent positions lengthwise of the platen, means for adjusting the control lever to difl'erent positions transversely of said mounting, and means settable to limit the releasing movement oi said control lever.

M. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a frame for the platen mounted on the carriage, means for shifting the platen-frame between case-positions on th carriage, feed-rolls, carried by said shiftable platen-frame, to co-operate with the platen, and control means mounted on the carriage for releasing the feed-rolls, said control means movable to different actuating positions.

JESSE A. B. SMITH. 

